To bring down the size, quantity, quality, value or intensity of something; to diminish, to lower.
What is reduce?
• To lose weight.
• To bring to an inferior rank; to degrade, to demote.
• To humble; to conquer; to subdue; to capture.
• To bring to an inferior state or condition.
• To be forced by circumstances (into something one considers unworthy).
• To decrease the liquid content of (a food) by boiling much of its water off.
• To add electrons / hydrogen or to remove oxygen.
• To produce metal from ore by removing nonmetallic elements in a smelter.
• To simplify an equation or formula without changing its value.
• To express the solution of a problem in terms of another (known) algorithm.
• To convert a syllogism to a clearer or simpler form.
• To convert to written form. (Usage note: this verb almost always appears as "reduce to writing".)
• To perform a reduction; to restore a fracture or dislocation to the correct alignment.
• To reform a line or column from (a square).
• To strike off the payroll.
• To annul by legal means.
• To pronounce (a sound or word) with less effort.
• To translate (a book, document, etc.).
Why reduce matters
reduce appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How reduce works in practice
In practice, reduce is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.